Well, that was busier than expected… After a damp autumnal morning, the sun came out and yesterday afternoon hotted up, so somehow over 20 workshy layabouts made Paper Mill Lock at c.5pm for a couple of locks up to Stonham’s and back before dark. Huge thanks to the wonderful Willow Set and Six Bells Boreham for looking after us so amazingly all season… (And hopefully we’ve got a month left in us yet, weather and impending darkness allowing!)

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Gates open: 4.50pm
Arrive: by c.5.10pm (gates lock at 5.20pm)
Launch: after 5.30pm briefing
Finish: c.7.30pm
Level: capable river paddlers

With a solid south-westerly breeze on all the forecasts, we’re taking SUP Club back up onto the River Chelmer tonight, from the Willow Set at Paper Mill Lock – with huge thanks to the twins for allowing us to let ourselves in out of season… All capable river paddlers welcome, hopefully a bit of headwind on the way out should be the worst of it. But as we’re not allowed on the navigation in the dark, it will need to be crazy early (sorry, workers of the world…) Oh, and of course it might rain a tiny bit – although the forecasts look dry enough this afternoon and evening.

We’re just planning to go two locks upstream: upwind (and it may be pretty breezy) to Stonham’s via Mill House and back. The Willow Set are kindly allowing us in out of season, charging £3 from 5.30pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Please get there by c.5.10pm – and please don’t be late, as the gates are going to lock at 5.20pm, then we’re briefing at 5.30, so do make sure you have time to pump up before that… Also, don’t be early, as the Willow Set is closed for winter now, so we’ll be unlocking it ourselves at 4.50pm.

Setting up from 5pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather at our ‘training zone’ by the entrance for a 5.30pm briefing ahead of a c.5.35pm launch. We’ll probably be going two locks upstream to Stonham’s and back tonight.